George w



(No Model.) v

G. W. SPRINGSTED,

,BLIND .SLAT ADJUSTER.

268335 Patented Dec. 12, 18 82 UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcrr.

GEORGE W. SPRINGSTED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BLlND-SLAT ADJUSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,835, dated December 12, 1882.

Application filed July17,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SPRING: STED, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Blind-Slat Oonfining-and Adjusting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the blind through the slat-holding device, the slats being open; Fig. 2, a front View of the blind, the slat-rod being up; Fig. 3, a View of the slat holding and adjusting device from below.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for confining and adjusting the slats of blinds in any desired position.

In the drawings like letters indicate like parts. I

A A is the frame of the blind.

B B are the slats.

G is the slat-rod. i

D is a metallic tip or socket, fastened to the end of the slat-rod. In the lower end of it there is a thread cut in a hole therein to match into a thread cut on the adjusting-rod I, as hereinafter explained.

E is a friction-wheel sustained in the metallic frame or case L L, which is inserted in a mortised recess in the frame A of the blind by the bent end of the lever H. The wheel E is rigidly attached to this bent end ofthe lever H, which serves as a shaft or axis for the wheel E. This lever H passes through a portion of the metallic case L, as seen atf in Fig. 3, and the other end of it at the other side of the wheel is supported by another portion of the case. (Seen in the same figure at g.)

F is a friction clutch or brake, which is pivoted to the case L, and has aset-screw, G, threaded into the lower end thereof, by which the pressure of the upper end of the brake upon the friction-wheel E is regulated. H is a lever, the lower end of which is bent at right angles and forms the axis of the friction-wheel E, as stated.

l is' the adjusting-bar, which is threaded throughout substantially its entire length, and its threads engage with the threadsin the lower end of the tip or socket D.

tially as the chain-ring of a watch is attached to the stem thereof.

L is the case or frame of the slat-holding device. It is made in the outline shown in Fig. 3, (this being a view of it from below,) and has in its central portion a recess, n, which is received in the deepest part of the mortisein the frame A, and into this recess a the end of the slat-rod O and the lever H and the adjustingrod I swing when the .slats are turned completely down. 'm, for the case L, which is let into the upper surface of the frame A, the better to finish off the case L, add to its appearance, and also to inclose and protect the friction-wheel.

The operation is as follows: All the parts hein g fastened in their positions, as shown, the lever H passing through the ring or link K, which is of such size as to receive it somewhat snugly, so that there may be but little play of the parts, to avoid rattling, the friction clutch or brake is set'somewhat strongly against the friction-wheel, so that in whatever position the slat-rod is left the friction-wheel will hold it, and, as the slatrod is moved up or down, the ring K, being acted on by the lever H, will swing from a substantially horizontal position from the adjusting-rod I outwardly from the blind when the slat-rod is most elevated to a corresponding position inwardly toward the blind when the slat-rod is most depressed.

The friction clutch or brake F may be tight ened or loosened by the setscrew G at will. The adjusting-rod is threaded, so that the device may be made to fit and properly operate with different sizes of blinds or with blinds of unusual relative proportions between the slatrod and the lower bar of the frame A. Ifthe' adjusting feature is not desired, then the ring K or an equivalent device for engagement with the lever H may be attached directly to the end of the tip D, and instead of the adjustable friction clutch or brake F a spring may be attached to the case L and made to bear upon the friction-wheel E.

I do not limit myself to the precise details of I prefer to provide a top plate,

construction as shown, for they may be somestill my invention be masses the lever H, the Wheel E, the friction-bar F, E, the friction-bar F, the set-screw G, the case I the screw G, and the case L, substantially as L, and suitable means for connecting the lever 10 and for the purposes set forth. H with the slat-rod, substantially as and for 2. The combination of the tip D. the adjustthe purposes set forth. I 5 ing-rod I, the ring K, the lever H, the wheel GEORGE \V. SP'RINGSTED.

E, and the spring F, substantially as and for I WVitnesses: the purposes set forth. JOHN J. UAULDWELL,

3. The combination of-the lever H, the Wheel JOHN J. OBRIEN. 

